Infant&#39;s folding bath stand



. y 1950 c. T. DE PUY 2,513,457

INFANT'S FOLDING BATH STAND Filed March 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Shet 1 IN VENTOR. Czar/Z26 7,

I "a; Waring July 4, 1950 c.-r. DE PUY mum's FOLDING BATH STAND 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1948 IN V EN TOR. Czar/k3 3:255

Patented July 4, 1950 INFANTS FOLDING BATH STAND Charles T. De Puy, Brighton, N; Y., assignor to Trimble Nurseryland- Furniture, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 4, 1948, Serial No. 13,061

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an infants folding bath stand of the general type comprising two pivotally connected leg frames between which a collapsible tub is supported,.and it has for its purpose to aiford such a folding structure in which each leg frame is formed from an integral metal tube bent to provide top and bottom rails and vertical connecting portions.

More particularly, the invention has for its purpose to afford a cross-legged folding construction in which each leg frame consisting of a cylindrical metal tube has rounded corners formed by bending the tube to provide a onepiece frame.

With such a tubular metal leg frame structure having rounded corners, the length of tub that can be supported between the top rails of the leg frames is determined by the straight portions of the top rails, and it is a further object of the invention to so construct the inner or front leg frame at its upper portion that a tub of maximum length can be supported between the leg frames, limited only by the length of the straight portion of the top rail of the rear or outer leg frame.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford a construction that can be economically manufactured from cylindrical tubular metal stock and readily assembled to afford a practical and efiicient structure, in which each legframe formed of a single metal tube bent to the desired form has separable telescoping end portions extending through the tub and maintained in supporting relation thereto by frictional engagement with each other and by the spring action of the leg frame.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of an infants folding bath stand constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail View, partially broken away, showing a top corner of the inner or front leg frame, and the telescoping end portions thereof;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the rear or outer leg frame, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail elevation, partially in section, showing the telescoping relation between the separable end portions of the inner leg frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, the invention is illustrated in connection with an infants folding bath stand including pivotally connected leg frames, each of which is formed of an integral cylindrical metal tube bent to the required form.

In the construction shown, the invention comprises an inner or front leg frame designated generally at l and arranged within the outer or rear leg frame 2, the vertical portions of the leg frames being pivotally connected by suitable means such as'bolts 3. The leg frames include vertical portions terminating in rounded corners 4 at their lower ends which form part of the bottom rail and merge into the upwardly inclined portions 5 connecting with the elevated central horizontal portions 6 which permit placing ones foot under the elevated portion of the bottom rail while the vertical portions terminate at their upper ends in top rails comprising elongated portions 1 telescoping within the short connecting portions 8, the portions 1 and 8 of the top rails being connected with the vertical portions by rounded corners 9 as shown.

Since both leg framesare rounded at the ends. of their top rails or their upper corners and the inner leg frame is pivoted within the outer leg frame, the straight portion of the top rail of the inner leg frame would necessarily be of somewhat less length than thestraight portion of the rear leg frame and thus limit the length oftub that can be supported between them if both leg frames are similarly formed, and in order to enable constructing both leg frames of cylindrical metal tubes and bending them to afford rounded corner connecting portions and at the same time support a tub therebetween of the maximum length that can be accommodated by the, outer or rear leg frame, the vertical portions of the inner or front leg frame are provided at their upper ends with outwardly flaring curved portions l2 that extend to a point in vertical alinement with the vertical portion of the outer leg frame, such outwardly flaring portions l2 forming continuous curves with the rounded corners and merging into the vertical top rail comprising the elongated and short connecting portions already described which when connected together form a continuous leg frame that is extremely rigid and firm, giving substantial support to the tub. A

With this arrangement of outwardly flaring portions l2, the straight portion of the top rail of the inner leg frame affords the same length for supporting the tub as the top rail of the outer leg frame, which is supported outside the inner leg frame and therefore of greater length measured between its vertical portions at the pivotal point, and'thus-av tub of. maximum length can be upported between the top rails of the'leg frames, or of a length as great as the outer leg frame will accommodate.

The tub which is of rubberized fabric or other suitable flexible material is indicated at I3, and

constructed with suitable tubularlportions or casings I4 along its front and rear edges within which are received the top rails of the leg frames, which thus support the tub while the latter limits the spreading or opening movement of the'leg frames when they are unfolded.

The elongated portions of the top rails indicatediat lareprovided withtapered portions l5 terminating in. cylindrical end portions H; of reduced diameter, which enter the adjacentends of the short connecting portions 8 and act as guiding means in positioning the elongated portionswithinthe shortconnecting portions, while the tapered portions l5 exert a wedging action on the surrounding surface of the edge of the short portions of the tube.

Each leg frame comprises a cylindrical ..metal tube as illustrated'in Fig, 1, with its top rail comprising the elongated and short connecting portions which are separable to. permit assembling the flexible tub on the leg frames, each integral meta-l'tube. being, sufliciently resilient and yieldable. to permit the ends to be swung apart while assembling. the. tub thereon.

Toassemble the tub on the leg frames, the elongated. portions 1 of the two-leg frames are separatedjfrom the. short connecting portions 8, the spring action of the frames permittingsuch separation, and the elongatedv portions arev th'en threaded through the tubular sections or casings of the. tub, which is then pushed entirely on to the elongated portions-'l-of the top rails suflficiently to. permitinsertingthe extremities of the elongated portions into. the openings at the ends of the short connecting portions, as shown in Figs. 4,. 5 and 6.

The spring action and resilience of each metal leg frame and. the frictional engagementtof; the tapered portion Il'ract to hold the separable parts ofthe top rail together and the tub is'thenipulled over the shorticonnectin'g portions of the top railsas shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the leg frames be!- ing held inpivotal'relation by meansof the bolts or other attaching'devices 3', and the integral con.- nections. betweenthe'vertical portions of the leg frames through the bottom rails aifordsuflicient stiffness and rigidity tothe leg frames so that the separable :portion's of'the top: rails are" held togetherin proper retaining relationship to the tub; and the latter cannot'be displaced from the leg frames except by forcibly'separating the telescoping portions of each leg frame.

The integral connecting portions at the bottoms of the leg frames afford stiffness and rigidity to the stand as a whole, andby providing the bottom rails with the upwardly inclined portions 5 and the elevated horizontal portions at the center, which are thus raised above the floor, there is nothing to interfere with the positioning of a person's foot under the stand Whenbathing or dressing aniinfant, andv there is consequently nothing on the floor to obstruct thenaturalposi- 4 tion of the feet under the stand or otherwise to interfere with its normal and :proper operation.

While the invention has been described with reference to the particular construction shown, it-

is not confined to the details illustrated herein, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purposes-of, the improvement or. the scope of the followingv claims.

I claim:

' 1. An infants folding bath stand consisting of pivotally connected leg frames, each of which comprises integral cylindrical metal tube includingvertical.portions, a bottom rail, a top rail consisting of separable elongated and short telescopingportions, said telescoping portions including a cylindrical terminal portion of reduced diameter and an adjacent tapered portion at one end of the tube fitting within the other end of the tube and wedging against the inner edge thereof, said-telescopic,jointbeingat one end of the top rail, rounded'corners connecting-the vertical portions with the top; and bottom rails respectively, and a collapsible. tub-secured atits front and rear edges to said-top rails;

2. An infants folding bath stand consistingof pivotally connected; leg, frames each of which comprises an integral cylindrical metal tube including vertical portions, a bottom rail, atop rail consisting, of separable. elongated and'short telescoping portions, rounded corners connectingvthe vertical portions with the toll) and bottom rails respectively each bottom rail including an elevated central portion permitting steppingzthereunder and inclined portions connecting said central portion with the adjacent lower rounded 'corners, and a collapsible tub secured at its front and Irearedges to said top rails.

3. An infants folding'bath stand consistingof pivotally connectedle frames, each of which comprisesan integral cylindrical metal tube including verticalportions, a bottom rail, a top rail consisting of separable elongated and shorttelescoping portion s,said telescoping portions including a cylindrical terminal portion of reduced diameter and an. adjacent tapered portion on one end of the tube fitting within the other end of the. tube and wedging against the inner edge thereof,.said telescopic'joint. being atone end ofthetop rail; rounded corners connecting the verticalp'ortions with thetop and bottom rails respectively, each bottom railiincluding an elevatedcentraliportion' permitting stepping thereunder'and inclined portions connecting. said. central'portion withth'e adjacent lowerrounded corners, anda collapsible" tub secured at'its front and rear edges tosaid tOyp rails.

4. An infantsfolding "bathstand consistingof pivotally" connected inner and outer leg frames, each of "which comprises an integral cylindrical metal tube including vertical portions, a bottom rail; atop rail consisting'offseparable elongated and short telescoping portions, the vertical portions of the inner leg frame terminating attheir upper ends in outwardly flaring curved. portions extending 'to'points' flush with 'planes containing the vertical portions of the outer" leg frames whereby the straight'portions of the top rails of both leg frames'are'ofthe same length toaccommodatea tub aslong as the outer. leg framewill permit, rounded corners connectingethe to rrail of .the inner leg. frame with saidioutwardly flaring curved. .portions and the .top rail of the :outerdeg frame with the vertical portions thereof,- rounded corners. connecting; ther-bottomarai-ls with said vertical portions, and a collapsible tub connected at its front and rear edges to said top rails.

5. An infants folding bath stand consisting of pivotally connected inner and outer leg frames, each of which comprises an integral cylindrical metal tube including vertical portions, a bottom rail, a top rail consisting of separable elongated and short telescoping portions, the vertical portions of the inner leg frame terminating at their upper ends in outwardly flaring curved portions extending to points flush with planes containing the vertical portions of the outer leg frame whereby the straight portions of the top rails of both leg frames are of the same length to accommodate a tub as long as the outer leg frame will permit, rounded corners connecting the top rail of the inner leg frame with said outwardly flaring curved portions and the top rail of the outer leg frame with the vertical portions thereof, rounded corners connecting the bottom rails with said vertical portions, and a collapsible tub connected at its front and rear edges to said top rails, said telescoping portions including a cylindrical terminal :portion of reduced diameter and an adjacent tapered portion at one end of the tube fitting Within the other end of the tube and wedging against the inner edge thereof and said telescopic joint being at one end of the top rail.

6. An infants folding bath stand consisting of pivotally connected inner and outer leg frames, each of which comprises an integral cylindrical metal tube including vertical portions, a bottom rail, a top rail consisting of separable elongated and short telescoping portions, the vertical portions of the inner leg frame terminating at their upper ends in outwardly flaring curved portions extending to points flush with planes containing the vertical portions of the outer leg fram'es whereby the straight portions of the top rails of both leg frames are of the same length to accommodate a tub as long as the outer leg frame will permit, rounded corners connecting the top rail of the inner leg frame with said outwardly flaring curved portions and the top rail of the outer leg frame with the vertical portions thereof, rounded corners connecting the bottom rails with said vertical portions, each bottom rail including an elevated central portion permitting stepping thereunder and inclined portions connecting said central portion with the rounded corners, and a collapsible tub secured at its front and rear edges to said top rails.

7. An infants folding bath stand consisting of pivotally connected inner and outer leg frames, each of which comprises an integral cylindrical metal tube including vertical portions, a bottom rail, a top rail consisting of separable elongated and short telescoping portions, the vertical portions of the inner leg frame terminating at their upper ends in outwardly flaring curved portions extending to points flush with planes containing the vertical portions of the outer leg frame whereby the straight portions of the top rails of both leg frames are of the same length to accommodate a tub as long as the outer leg frame will permit, rounded corners connecting the top rail of the inner leg frame with said outwardly flaring curved portions and the top rail of the outer leg frame with the vertical portions thereof, rounded corners connecting the bottom rails with said vertical portions, each bottom rail comprising an elevated central portion permitting stepping thereunder and inclined portions connecting said central portion with the rounded corners, and a collapsible tub secured at its front and rear edges to said top rails, said telescoping portions including a cylindrical terminal portion of reduced diameter and an adjacent tapered portion on one end of the tube fitting within the other end of the tube and wedging against the inner edge thereof, said telescopic joint being at one end of the top rail.

CHARLES T. DE PU'Y.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,650 Truesdell et al. Sept. 20, 1921 1,466,047 Johnstone Aug. 28, 1923 2,096,169 Friesner Oct. 19, 1937 

